Find information on knee meniscus tear diagnosis, including clinical documentation, medical coding, and healthcare resources. Learn about meniscus tear symptoms, diagnostic criteria, ICD-10 codes (S83.2_), MRI findings, and treatment options. This resource provides accurate medical information for healthcare professionals, coders, and patients seeking to understand meniscus injuries. Explore relevant medical terminology, documentation guidelines, and coding best practices for knee meniscus tears.
Also known as
Other meniscus derangements of knee
Includes tears of meniscus of knee, current injury or not.
Dislocation of meniscus of knee
Covers displacement and derangement of knee meniscus.
Internal derangements of knee
Includes various internal knee problems, sometimes with meniscus involvement.
Other internal derangements of knee
A general category for knee derangements not elsewhere classified.
Follow this step-by-step guide to choose the correct ICD-10 code.
Is the meniscus tear traumatic?
Yes
Which knee?
No
Which knee?
When to use each related code
Description |
---|
Knee meniscus tear |
Knee sprain/strain |
Knee osteoarthritis |
Coding a meniscus tear without specifying right, left, or bilateral knee can lead to claim denials and inaccurate reporting. Use S73.1XXA-S73.1XXD.
Incorrectly coding a degenerative tear as traumatic (or vice versa) impacts reimbursement and data integrity. CDI crucial for accurate S73.1XXA-S73.1XXD codes.
Failure to document medial, lateral, or both menisci torn creates coding ambiguity. Precise ICD-10-CM S73.1XXA-S73.1XXD selection needed.
Patient presents with complaints consistent with a possible medial meniscus tear. Onset of symptoms occurred [Timeframe] following [Mechanism of injury, e.g., twisting injury while playing basketball, non-contact deceleration]. Patient reports experiencing knee pain localized to the [Medial/Lateral] joint line, with occasional clicking, popping, catching, or locking sensations. Pain is exacerbated by [Activities, e.g., weight-bearing, squatting, twisting]. Patient denies any prior history of knee injury or surgery. Physical examination reveals [Positive/Negative] McMurray's test, [Positive/Negative] Apley's grind test, and [Positive/Negative] Thessaly test. Joint line tenderness is noted. Range of motion is [Limited/Full] with [Degrees] of flexion and [Degrees] of extension. Effusion is [Present/Absent]. Ligamentous testing of the ACL, PCL, MCL, and LCL is [Stable/Unstable]. Differential diagnoses include meniscal tear, ligamentous injury, patellofemoral pain syndrome, and osteoarthritis. Assessment: Knee meniscus tear, [Medial/Lateral], likely [Acute/Chronic]. Plan: Conservative management is initially recommended, including RICE (Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation), NSAIDs (e.g., ibuprofen), and physical therapy focusing on strengthening and range of motion exercises. Referral to orthopedics for further evaluation and consideration for MRI to confirm diagnosis and evaluate the extent of the tear. Surgical intervention (e.g., meniscectomy, meniscus repair) may be warranted if conservative treatment fails or if significant mechanical symptoms persist. Follow-up scheduled in [Timeframe] to assess response to treatment. ICD-10 code: [Appropriate ICD-10 code, e.g., M23.2xx for medial meniscus tear].